Burger King worker keeps her job

Burger King crew worker Julie Tyler with supporters after learning she would keep her job at the...
Burger King crew worker Julie Tyler with supporters after learning she would keep her job at the Andersons Bay restaurant. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
The Dunedin worker who kept her job with fast-food giant Burger King after a disciplinary meeting yesterday continues to stand by her comments that staff are underpaid and overworked.

Julie Tyler (27) will be back at work preparing food this morning, but came close to losing her $13-an-hour job after posting "Real jobs don't underpay and overwork people like BK does" on a friend's Facebook page last month.

That comment, which was printed out and given to management, raised the ire of Burger King, which charged her with serious misconduct.

Last night, a Burger King spokeswoman said Ms Tyler "remains employed by the company", but criticised her union.

"Unite Union chose to single out one incident of this staff member's conduct to draw attention to their cause," spokeswoman Rachael Allison said.

"This has had the effect of distorting the matter substantially, and threatening the privacy to which she is entitled."

Before yesterday's disciplinary meeting with management, Ms Tyler told the Otago Daily Times she was "hoping for justice".

That meeting was moved to an inner-city location to avoid further publicity for the Andersons Bay Rd store, where more than 20 protesters chanted "Justice for Julie" yesterday afternoon.

Ms Tyler was already on a final written warning after two previous complaints, including one where she told an abusive customer, "Like you need it". She had faced dismissal if involved in any further incidents.

Under Burger King policy, any employee involved in bringing the company into disrepute on social networking sites faces a charge of serious misconduct.

However, rather than dismiss her, Burger King management issued a second final written warning.

"I am extremely happy that I still have my job," a visibly relieved Ms Tyler said.

"I said the truth from day 1. It is about freedom of speech and I have the support of my colleagues."

Asked if she stood by her comments that staff were underpaid and overworked, she replied, "Yes".

Unite Union representative Andrew Tait said with the minimum wage to increase from $12.75 to $13 from April 1, the incident had helped highlight the plight of those on low wages who spoke out about their pay and conditions.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

 

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